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Collierville's animal services director Nina Wingfield retiring

Collierville Animal Services Director Nina Wingfield (center) gathers her day campers for an activity during the one-day kid's camp at the pet adoption center in Carriage Crossing hosted by Collierville Animal Services. Participants at the annual camp learn about owning pets, make animal crafts and get to play with puppies and kittens.(Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)Buy Photo

A lifelong lover of animals, Nina Wingfield took a friend's recommendation to look at the Collierville Animal Shelter for volunteer work in 2003.

Within months, Assistant Town Administrator Chip Petersen offered her the director's job. She accepted it, planning to stay on as interim director for a month and a half.

She stayed for 14 years.

"I've loved my job," she said Friday as her retirement approaches at the end of June.

Before her friend encouraged her to check out the Collierville shelter, Wingfield spent 18 years with the Memphis Humane Society as a foster mother, fundraiser and educator. She previously raised money for the Germantown Animal Welfare League.

Trained as an animal control officer and cruelty investigator, she also launched Memphis' Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and assisted in starting the nonprofit no-kill Sunny Meadows Animal Sanctuary.

"There is a lot of help out there especially with the shelter and the SPCA," she said. "There's always an option for spay and neuter. Don't ever think you can't afford it."

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Day campers get some hands-on time with a puppy named Jazzy during the one-day kid's camp at the pet adoption center in Carriage Crossing hosted by Collierville Animal Services. Participants at the annual camp learn about owning pets, make animal crafts and get to play with puppies and kittens. Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Collierville Animal Shelter Director Nina Wingfield (center) gathers her day campers for an activity during the one-day kid's camp at the pet adoption center in Carriage Crossing hosted by Collierville Animal Services. Participants at the annual camp learn about owning pets, make animal crafts and get to play with puppies and kittens. Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Dat camper Olivia Seymour gets some hands-on time with a puppy named Jazzy during the one-day kid's camp at the pet adoption center in Carriage Crossing hosted by Collierville Animal Services. Participants at the annual camp learn about owning pets, make animal crafts and get to play with puppies and kittens. Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Day Camper Kellan Ebach watches the kittens play during the one-day kid's camp at the pet adoption center in Carriage Crossing hosted by Collierville Animal Services. Participants at the annual camp learn about owning pets, make animal crafts and get to play with puppies and kittens. Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Day camper Maddison Iglesias learns a little about puppy training from Amy Lear during the one-day kid's camp at the pet adoption center in Carriage Crossing hosted by Collierville Animal Services. Participants at the annual camp learn about owning pets, make animal crafts and get to play with puppies and kittens. Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Day Camper Kellan Ebach checks out the notices for adoptable cats during the one-day kid's camp at the pet adoption center in Carriage Crossing hosted by Collierville Animal Services. Participants at the annual camp learn about owning pets, make animal crafts and get to play with puppies and kittens. Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal

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Wingfield's career and accomplishments were detailed in a tribute to her on the town's website.

"Nina will be missed not only by our staff and dedicated shelter volunteers, but by the Collierville community as a whole," Parks Director Greg Clark said in a statement. "I have been fortunate to work directly with Nina for the last three years and selfishly, I wanted her to stay on for a few more years. But I also want to be the first person to congratulate her on her retirement and wish all the best for her and her family.”

Wingfield said she plans to travel, spend more time with her husband and family and continue her advocacy for animals through her work with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Emergency Services and the Red Cross. She also hopes to assist small shelters.

“These small shelters are doing incredible work rescuing animals with very few resources," she said.

Town Administrator James Lewellen said Wingfield has "incredible energy and drive."

"She has devoted every ounce of both to better the lives of animals," he said. "She will have a lasting influence on the Collierville Animal Shelter and animal care programs.”

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Day camper Maddison Iglesias learns a little about puppy training from Amy Lear during the one-day kid's camp at the pet adoption center in Carriage Crossing hosted by Collierville Animal Services. Participants at the annual camp learn about owning pets, make animal crafts and get to play with puppies and kittens.(Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)